community: 1/25 of 124

Small scale renewables are - almost un-noticed by policy makers - providing a quarter of the world's electricity, up from 10% in 2000, writes Morgan Saletta. Forget fracking and nuclear - this is the real energy revolution that's under way, and it's cutting big fossil fuel and centralised power grids out of the picture, while reducing emissions and delivering energy security and resilience.more...

Two years after Hurricane Sandy, 'official' responses have failed, writes Michael Premo. Promises have been broken, money remains in limbo, and families are still not back in their homes. With climate change due to bring further disasters, we must build a new kind of resilience that's democratic, participative and rooted in local communities.more...

Community energy presents a real solution to Britain's energy trap, writes Hugh Bowring. And here's the perfect opportunity to find out more: Community Energy Fortnight is now under way, with over 80 events across the UK - from visits to wind farms and hydro stations, to DIY solar panel workshops and a community share offer festival.more...

The FCA is accused of undermining official policy by refusing new applications for community energy projects with a co-operative structure, writes Adam Vaughan. The key question: what is a bona fide co-op? Is investment alone a valid form of participation?more...

If the state does not defend citizens against the violence and destruction of mining, people and communities must defend themselves, writes Raul Zibechi. And in Peru and Colombia that's exactly what they are doing, re-asserting indigenous control of the land and its resources.more...

Illinois is one of six US states that allows communities to aggregate and specify their energy purchases. Now 91 - comprising 1.7 million people - have used that power to buy 100% renewable electricity.more...

A radical experiment in community supported agriculture is attempting to break farming's reliance on fossil fuels and unsustainable practices. Andrew Wasley met green farmer Ed Hamer for this exclusive extract from The Ecologist Guide To Food.more...

High altitude regions near the equator are highly vulnerable to climate change - as are marginalised communities. Sian Cowman reports on how resilience strategies - old and new - are helping one Andean community to survive a changing climate.more...

Ruth Stokes tells The Ecologist about an ingenious new online tool that encourages all of us, especially the yet-to-be-converted, to indulge in the free edible goodness found throughout our urban spacesmore...

From Shetland, Thembi Mutch reports on how the close knit community of the island are responding to the possibility of a huge wind farm (currently going through judicial review) changing their landscape forever.....more...

From artisan bakers to green energy schemes, co-operative businesses, owned and run by members, are enjoying a renaissance. Here the co-operative trade association offers a practical guide to creating your ownmore...

A group of community-minded gardeners have turned a former Athens airport into a blooming vegetable plot, showing how Greece's eroded soil holds the keys to a revival in farming and a way to buck the jobless trendmore...

With bricks and mortar proving environmentally unsustainable, a dearth of affordable housing available, and charity Shelter maintaining that homelessness persists, could shipping containers be a solution? more...

More than £800,000 has been raised towards the cost of setting up a unique farm - complete with green houses, polytunnels, irrigation system, woodland, orchards and a shop - that could help meet the capitals' future food needs more...

They used to sleep beneath London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Now a pioneering collaboration between the Southbank Centre and a housing association is giving a group of ex-homeless a chance to create a rooftop garden more...

The pioneers behind Apple Day - Sue Clifford & Angela King of Common Ground - have recently published a handbook on community-owned fruit orchards. Here they give the Ecologist their top tips and advice on getting startedmore...

From Slough to the Moulsecoomb Forest Garden & Wildlife Project in Brighton, Warren Carter is a radical food grower on a mission to transform the lives of troubled youngsters. Jan Goodey meets him more...